This section will list and discuss some helpful tips regarding selling a fire-damaged house. Let’s get started.

Get Fire Damaged Repaired

There are two options to consider when selling a fire-damaged house in Utah: you can either sell the house as-is (without repairs) or attempt to salvage what remains and repair the home.

In most cases, homeowners prefer to sell their fire-damaged house as-is since there’s generally less work involved. Additionally, you won’t have to work through employing contractors, managing the process, or living through the process.

Many realtor agents in Utah conclude that selling as-is might have some potential drawbacks when considering the final selling price.

Adding repairs to a home, even if there’s fire damage, instantly makes it more valuable. Unless a buyer is looking specifically for a fixer-upper, the average homebuyer won’t want to put in the work to add repairs.

On top of that, prospective buyers aren’t expecting to buy a fire-damaged home for full price, there should be some sort of discount involved.

Repairing the home yourself can be very profitable to the sale of the property. Taking time to clean up, add some paint, and maintain curb appeal are relatively cheap tasks.

Most real estate agents will advise you to do just that. For the maximum return on investment, you should have the fire-damaged house repaired.

Document Repairs

For someone to re-enter your home, you’ll need to receive permission from the fire department.

Depending on how much damage has been done, you’ll need to document all the repairs. This task might require hiring various inspectors—such as plumbing, structural, electrical, and mechanical (HVAC) inspections—so you can accurately assess the wreckage.

You should also contact a restoration contractor to check your HVAC ductwork or ventilation for smoke residue. Restoration contractors talk to your insurance companies to help fix your roof, decking, windows, siding, and anything else that might be damaged.

Since not all restoration contractors possess a GC (general contractor) license, they might not be qualified to recommend anything beyond carpenters or electricians.

Restoration contractors that have a GC license are generally more useful since they can directly take charge of all the damage.

As you go through the damage, make sure to keep every physical document regarding the damage. When a buyer purchases a fire-damaged home, they’ll be looking at the property through a microscope.

That’s why we recommended hiring multiple inspectors. A potential buyer will want to know every little detail before going into a purchase, including paid invoices and photos.